Steely Dan

Biography

In the early 1970s, Walter Becker and Donald Fagen began an extremely influential collaboration, adding jazzy harmonies and complex changes to memorable pop hooks, creating a slew of Jazz Rock classics in the process. "Rikki Don't Lose That Number," "Kid Charlemagne," and "Peg" proved their prowess as hit songwriters that defied traditional means of songwriting, adding their biting humor and subtle lyrical style. Their sound reached its crux as the pair hired top session and jazz musicians to add a polished touch. With horns by jazz veterans like Phil Woods and Wayne Shorter covering the upper ranges, guitarists Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter and Larry Carlton added pristine, jazzy guitar solos over the crisp rhythms of drummers Jeff Porcaro and Steve Gadd. Over the years Steely Dan has attracted diverse listeners, from hip-hop samplers to fans of a musically exciting, finely crafted melody